Free Tax Tool
Self-Employment Tax Calculator
Estimate your 2026 federal self-employment tax (Social Security + Medicare) and New Jersey Gross Income Tax based on your net self-employment income.
Enter Your Information
Enter your Schedule C net profit or partnership ordinary income subject to self-employment tax. Do NOT include S-corporation K-1 ordinary business income - it is not subject to SE tax. S-corp owner wages are subject to FICA through payroll, but K-1 pass-through distributions are not.
Example SE Tax Results (2026)
| Net SE Income | Federal SE Tax | Deductible Half | NJ Income Tax (Est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $7,065 | $3,533 | ~$805 |
| $100,000 | $14,130 | $7,065 | ~$2,750 |
| $184,500 (SS cap) | $26,051 | $13,026 | ~$6,900 |
| $250,000+ | $28,203* | $14,102 | ~$11,200 |
*Above the $184,500 SS wage base, only Medicare (2.9%) and Additional Medicare (0.9% above $200K single / $250K MFJ) apply. NJ income tax estimates are for a single filer with no other income. Actual amounts depend on deductions, filing status, and other income sources. Schedule a consultation for a precise calculation.
How Self-Employment Tax Works
Self-employment tax (SE tax) is how self-employed individuals pay the Social Security and Medicare taxes that employees split with their employers. When you are an employee, your employer pays 7.65% and you pay 7.65%, for a total of 15.3%. When you are self-employed, you pay both halves yourself.
The SE Tax Calculation
SE tax is calculated on 92.35% of your net self-employment income (the 7.65% reduction accounts for the employer-equivalent half of SE tax). For 2026:
- • Social Security: 12.4% on net SE income up to $184,500 (the 2026 wage base)
- • Medicare: 2.9% on all net SE income, with no cap
- • Additional Medicare Tax: 0.9% on net SE income above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly)
The SE Deduction
To account for the employer-equivalent portion of SE tax, you can deduct 50% of your total SE tax from your gross income as an above-the-line deduction (reducing your AGI). This deduction appears on Schedule 1, Line 15.
TCJA Rates Now Permanent
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed July 4, 2025, made the TCJA individual income tax rates permanent. The 37% top bracket, which was scheduled to revert to 39.6% in 2026, is now the permanent rate. This affects how SE income is taxed at the federal level since your net SE earnings flow through to your personal return at these rates.
The S-Corp Strategy
Many self-employed individuals in NJ reduce their SE tax burden by electing S-Corp treatment. With an S-Corp, you pay yourself a reasonable W-2 salary (subject to FICA), and additional profits are distributed as S-Corp distributions, which are not subject to SE tax. For high-income earners, this can save thousands per year.
Curious how much you could save with an S-Corp?
Use the S-Corp Savings Calculator to compare your SE tax burden against what you would pay as an S-Corp, including NJ compliance costs.
IRS Circular 230 Disclosure: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, I inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained herein is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.